Lake Schools to welcome Hall of Fame inductees

Staff Report

Tuesday

Apr 16, 2019 at 6:30 PMApr 17, 2019 at 11:12 AM

TAVARES — The Educational Foundation of Lake County will welcome four new Alumni Hall of Fame inductees at the annual Night of Stars on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Everett Kelly Convocation Center at Lake-Sumter State College. This year’s inductees are Maj. Gen. David W. Coffman, Gary Semanchik, Pastor John H. Christian and Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell

A native of Lake County, Coffman joined the military after graduating from Eustis High School in 1981 and received numerous awards for his bravery, including a Purple Heart. In 2011, he was nominated as Brigadier General by President Barack Obama, making him one of the highest-ranking officers in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Semanchik is a former athlete, coach and educator. He graduated from Leesburg High School in 1967. Following his career as an educator, he became an award-winning entrepreneur. His work led him to invest back into his community and, in 2005, he formed the Adoption Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists couples with international adoption. He also owns a camp for underprivileged children, Camp Sycamore Creek.

Christian is both a religious and political leader in Lake County. A 1989 graduate of Leesburg High School, he is currently serving as mayor of Leesburg and was also elected in 2005, 2008 and 2014. He founded his church, the Christian Worship Center, and the organization Men of Distinction, which hosts community events, including summer programs, health fairs and voter registration drives.

A decorated Marine Corps veteran and distinguished member of Leesburg law enforcement, Grinnell graduated from Leesburg High School in 1986. He was sworn in as sheriff in 2017 and serves on the boards of directors for organizations like Hand in Hand Lake County, the Lake-Sumter State College Scholarship Foundation and the Educational Foundation of Lake County.

Photos of the 2019 inductees will be added to the new Lake County Schools Alumni Hall of Fame wall display in the lobby of the Tavares district office, as well as the virtual hall of fame on the Lake County Schools’ main website.

The Lake County Schools Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to honor graduates who have distinguished themselves through outstanding personal and professional accomplishments.

For more information on the Lake County Schools Hall of Fame or to view the virtual Hall of Fame, visit lake.k12.fl.us/alumni.

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